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Verizon Fios home internet rating
How we calculated our rating
Verizon Fios, the company’s fiber-optic internet service, announced in March that its network would reach 2,000 more homes across Delaware. This is the latest expansion for an internet service that has captured the top spot in multiple customer satisfaction studies for many years since it launched in 2004 — but it’s available in only eight states and the District of Columbia. Verizon unveiled its 5G Ultra Wideband network early in 2022, a move to unlock more of the full potential of 5G and help it expand its home broadband footprint.
Verizon Fios is specifically in the Northeast, but you’ll find other Verizon internet plans across the US, including LTE and 5G fixed wireless.
If you live within Verizon’s East Coast coverage area and Verizon Fios is available at your address, its internet service is tough to beat. If you’re outside that area, you may have some form of Verizon home internet service available to you, but you’ll need to make some tough side-by-side comparisons to find what’s truly best for your address (keep reading because we can help with that).
Verizon Fios: Where can you get it?
Verizon’s Fios service is the easiest to understand. There are three different tiers: 300, 500 and Gigabit. (Note: Verizon Fios has introduced a multigigabit plan — Fios 2 Gigabit Connection — to the New York City area and plans to roll it out to other regions in 2023.) Many providers offer a promo rate that expires after 12 months, causing your bill to go up, but Verizon doesn’t do that. That’s a good, straightforward approach — even though Verizon reserves the right to adjust its rates at any point.
On that point, a Verizon spokesperson told CNET regarding potential rate changes that “there’s no timetable for changing rates and if/when we should do so, all changes are clearly communicated to customers in advance,” with 30 days’ notice as a minimum lead time.
Finally, as Fios is a fiber-optic network, it delivers near-symmetrical download and upload speeds, meaning you will get close to the same upload speeds as your downloads. If you’re more accustomed to asymmetrical cable internet (where the upload speeds on a 300Mbps plan might only go as high as 10Mbps), you know how dramatic a difference that can make, particularly for videoconferencing and transferring large files.
Verizon High Speed Internet (DSL) plans and pricing
Verizon’s LTE Home Internet uses the Verizon 4G LTE cellular network to connect to the internet in areas where no other Verizon broadband options — Fios, DSL or 5G Home Internet — are available. Currently, per Verizon, that’s 189 markets in 48 different states.
With LTE Home Internet, customers should expect to see download speeds of 25Mbps to 50Mbps, with approximately 4Mbps upload, per the Verizon LTE FAQs.
Verizon LTE Home Internet is $50 a month and you can get up to 50% off with qualifying Verizon 5G wireless plans.
Verizon 5G Home Internet plans and pricing
This gateway is included in the monthly charges for Verizon 5G Home Internet.
When will Verizon 5G be available to my area?
Beyond the Verizon Fios services available in its Northeast market, Verizon is also carving out other options for customers nationwide. In 2021, Verizon promised its 5G home internet service would be available to 15 million homes. In January of 2022, it surpassed that number when Verizon flipped the switch on 5G Ultra Wideband. The company aims to expand its fixed wireless internet services to 50 million by 2025.
Verizon Fios: Other aspects to know
No contracts are required for any Verizon plans. There are no data caps, either. But just as your mom taught you to always look under the hood, it’s never a bad idea to dig in a bit to get a better idea of what you’re buying before committing to any possible internet service.
Additional monthly fees
As mentioned above, DSL customers must get a home phone plan, meaning a one-time $50 charge for buying a router. You can avoid that fee if you have a compatible router. On the other hand, Verizon LTE and Verizon 5G customers don’t have to pay for their equipment, as everything comes included in the monthly price.
One-time installation fee
Again, your setup charge will depend on the Verizon plan you select. If you choose Fios, your setup charge will be $99, which is waived if you order online; the activation fee for DSL is $30 and is also waived if you order online.
No Verizon data caps
Unlike Cox, HughesNet, Xfinity and some other ISPs, Verizon does not place a data cap on customers. Therefore, you won’t need to worry about overage fees or slowing your data once you hit a certain threshold.
Verizon Fios: Perks and promos
Can I get Verizon Fios in my area?
